The Center for Asian Business in the College of Business Administration has received a major three year grant from the International Communication Foundation that will fund a new, monthly Lecture and Film Series on Asian culture and history. The series is designed to provide opportunities for LMU students to gain a deeper understanding of East Asian countries and to become better equipped to work in a global market place when they enter the workforce.  The Series will be named the Y.B. Min Lecture Series honoring the founder and chairman of Sisa Yong-kuk-sa, the largest chain of English language schools in Korea.

“Over the last 30 years Y.B. Min has made many generous contributions to the Center for Asian Business and CBA, so it seemed only natural to name this exciting Lecture Series after him,” said John Daly, S.J., director of the Center for Asian Business.

The monthly events will focus on current Asian issues that influence our economy, foreign affairs and cultural understanding through the lectures and Q&A sessions that follow, and an additional film screening component, including some documentaries that will identify socio-cultural systems and lifestyles in China, Korea, and Japan.

The free lectures and media screenings are open to LMU students, faculty, staff and donors, as well as the surrounding campus communities and those in business, international or entertainment sectors that are heavily involved with Asian businesses or communities. The 2009-2010 Y.B. Min lectures will be given by prominent experts discussing exciting and informative topics.

The first lecture “The Two Koreas,” will be presented by Tom Plate, a well known syndicated columnist and journalist. It will be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ahmanson Auditorium, University Hall 1000.

The first film planned for screening in this series, “Shiri,” is often considered the most successful film in South Korea box office history by its blend of thriller action and romance. When the film was released in 1999, it ended up topping the record previously held by "Titanic."  It will be screened on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ahmanson Auditorium, University Hall 1000.

Additional Lectures include:

October 6, 2009:  “Korean Wave: Impact on political agenda, global economy, and the social system in South Korea," by Jeannie Han, Senior Vice President, Paramount Pictures  

November 18, 2009:  “The role of the government in the Entertainment Business in China, Korea, and Japan,”  by Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President, International Theatrical Distribution, Warner Brothers, Inc.  

February 24, 2010:  “Can we prevent North Korea from becoming a nuclear power?”  by Ambassador Donald Gregg, Chairman of the Board of The Korea Society in New York City. Former Ambassador to Korea1990-1993. Retired from a 43-year career in the U.S. Government in 1993

March 17, 2010: “e-Korea, Ubiquitous,” by T.K. Chun, V.P., S.K. Telecom (invited)

April 20, 2010: “The Asian Auto Industry: Present and Future” Speaker (TBD)

Special Lecture (Date & Time TBD): The Honorable Ki-Moon Ban, United Nations Secretary General

Additional films planned for this semester include:

October 20, 2009: "The Wedding Banquet"

November 10, 2009: "Shall we Dance?"   

Movies for the second semester TBD

More information is available at cba.lmu.edu/cab.